Where We Are

As we make it through our day to day existence, things happen / things come up. Sometimes those things overwhelm us and we nurture them and turn them into excuses.  Imagine putting a positive spin on them. Acknowledge where you are but continuously remind yourself that it's not where you have to remain. Take the time to invest in yourself . What is it that you want to do? What do you want to be? Are there things you want to change? Only you can answer those questions and other questions that you might have. Once you do that have the courage to turn your answer into a truth. Become who or what you're destined to be. Don't settle for where you are.

Endings

With the school year coming to an end, I find myself thinking about graduation, life changes, loss, moving on, see you laters... Each of those have a bittersweet connotation. Something is ending whether we're ready or not. The realization that change is occuring can be scary, exciting and life changing at the same time. Yes, endings are hard but they forge a beginning. A beginning that has remanents of the past that shaped you into you. Therefore, there are no true endings. There are reminders of what was and the promise of what is yet to be. May your endings carry more joy than pain. May they inspire you and encourage you. May they remind you that  their very existence means that life as you know it is a sum of parts that comes together to tell a story like no other. See them as had to be there moments as you venture towards whatever is yet to be with the belief that the in - betweens are what we make them.

Life is a Canvas

We live in a world where diversity is ever present. We differ in many ways. We have nevers and deal breakers that work within our mindset and scheme of things. The problem with that is we expect people to believe as we do and when they don't we want to belittle them or judge them. However, that isn't our due or our right. We must learn to come together. Not so we're all the same  but so we can come to appreciate the colorful, abstract canvas of life whose beauty lies in the eyes of the beholders and those that choose to live it without blinders not the ones that stand idly by judging rather than adding to the beauty of it all.

Joy

Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. It can be obtained in many ways. Sometimes its unexpectantly but its there and can be ever present if we allow it to be. Psalm 30:5 reminds us that...weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning. Dare to find the goodness in all you face. Do good! Be good! Believe in the goodness of others, in life, even if its not easily seen because "Joy is a decision, a really BRAVE one, about how you are going to respond to life."- Wess Stafford

Be Encouraged

There may come a time when you think all you can do is give up or give in. It is then that you must  be encouraged and resilient. When you feel yourself wavering committ to trying  to succeed at whatever you're attempting one more time. If you do that, the worst that can happen is you remain where you are but there's also the chance that one more try can make all the difference in the world. It can show you that it's a good thing you didn't give up or give in because if you had, you wouldn't have known that choosing to keep trying / believing was all the inspiration you needed to get you to the point where you could say, "YEAH ME!!!"...because you finally allowed yourself to realize your potential and see all the progress you were making even when you thought the odds weren't in your favor.

A Quote I Read

 This quote by Martha Washington  caught my attention ~ “I’ve learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances”. ~ When I read it, I was reminded that the way we see /react/ respond to the situations we’re faced with, impacts the way we perceive and eventually deal with/internalize them. Our state of mind can cause us to let what we’re dealing with get the best of us before we take the time to think things through and respond accordingly. As a result, we tend to make things worse than they are rather than take the time to rationalize what we’re facing. Yes, there are overwhelming situations/circumstances that we must deal with and can’t necessarily change and that is why the way we choose to deal with those situations/ circumstances is so important. Our mental and emotional state affects the way we carry ourselves and deal with others. If we’re miserable and bitter we invite misery and bitterness into our lives because that’s the attitude we’re projecting but if we find the least bit of good in what we must endure and respond accordingly, we have a greater chance of dealing with what we must deal with positively which can bring about an optimistic rather than a woe is me pessimistic attitude. Try it for yourself. I'm sure you'll agree:)!!!

Each Day

Each day comes with so much. It offers new experiences, new lessons, new beginnings , new oppurtunities... It's up to us to face them knowing that life is what we make of it. Yes, there are times that our outlook is tested. Simplicity eludes us because with good days come bad. Lucky for us, those bad days are no match for prayer, faith and the people that love us. Kind guestures become pick us ups. They turn not so good days around. To show our gratitude, we should do the same for someone else. So, each day, smile, share kind words, take the time to show others that they matter, that they're appreciated. Laugh, share, give, encourage! In  doing so, you'll come to see that a positive outlook is easy to spread because it's so contagious. It allows you to enjoy each day that you are blessed with and helps you see that life is to short to just exist in this world. Each day keep that in mind and do all you can to live life to the fullest and help others around you to do the same. You'll end up making your time here worthwhile , memorable, unforgettable and rewarding for others and yourself.

Passage of time

Amazing how many hours slip by while planning how to use your time! ~ Anonymous

I think this quote is anonymous because so many people are guilty of it. If we got half as much stuff done in real life as we do in our minds, what a success we would be. Procrastination would be a thing of the past and life would be boring. I say that because I have found that planning sparks creativity and motivation. What we need to do is find a balance between the two.  We need to make a planning and doing pact with ourselves that consists of using our time wisely out wasting it.

Your Outlook Matters

Where you are right now, doesn't determine where you'll end up or where you'll be as time passes. Yes, it is part of your journey and the choices you make, things you do or don't do, the actions you take and the way you respond /react to things will contribute to the outcome but, you still have to see each day as a chance to make changes as you figure out what works and what doesn't as you continue to work towards your goals. No matter how long it takes and in spite of the obstacles / challenges you face, continuously remind yourself that you and the outcome you seek are worth it. Along the way, make note of the reasons you're working towards whatever it is you're working towards and refer to it when necessary. When you're doing what you can to encourage yourself and keep going, every little bit helps. So, hang in there and do all you can to make your journey memorable, worthwhile, fun and unforgettable because the way it turns out depends on your outlook twords life and all that you face while living it.

It's Up To Us

“A smile happens in a flash, but it's memory can last a lifetime."The way we treat someone / what we say to them and do for or to them, can stay with them forever. Therefor we should do our best to be kind , compassionate, helpful and understanding. By choosing our words and actions carefully, we can make a positive impression and leave the people we encounter during our lifetime with a reason to smile/feel good about themselves. In a world full of so many uncertain things,  mixed emotions and beliefs, giving and/ or leaving someone with a reason to smile and believe that there's more good than bad in this world is an accomplishment that truly makes a difference.